BIG community brunchThe Festival Fundraising Brunch provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Festival together with friends over a cup of great coffee and a spread of goodies fresh out of the Lemon Tree kitchen.

Shepparton's AttractionsThere’s many things to do and see during your stay including a visit to the Maude Street Mall - with plenty of places to shop, have a coffee and take a pleasant stroll!

OUTintheOPEN was developed to address some of the inequalities faced by the local gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer (GLBTIQ) & allied communities and to build a more inclusive community in Greater Shepparton. EVERYONE is welcome to get involved!

OUTintheOPEN is a project led by Goulburn Valley Pride Inc. and is proudly supported by many other organisations and community groups.

The festival will consist of a health/well-being forum at GOTAFE and a CARNIVAL DAY on the first weekend in November at the Queens Gardens. Other events will be held during the weekend across the City of Greater Shepparton. This is where YOU come in!

We are looking for Community Groups, Organisations, Performers, Venues, Events & Artists…

How to get involved…

Please complete the expression of interest form – feel free to make contact with us first to discuss an event or idea. We look forward to hearing from you!

There’s something for everyone at this year’s OUTintheOPEN Festival Shepparton! With 11 events over 4 huge days, visitors and locals alike have countless opportunities to celebrate LGBTI+ pride and community diversity in ALL it’s forms across the City of Greater Shepparton! Festival Director, Damien Stevens, says…

“CARNIVAL DAY on Saturday November 3 is our signature event – returning to Queens Gardens this year with over 50 market stalls, food vendors, live entertainers, fun attractions, and a live ONE FM radio broadcast, this family-friendly event makes a great, FREE day out for everyone – Dykes on Bikes Melbourne, giant games and jumping castle included! Entertainment will showcase crowd favourites: shOUT Youth Chorus, Rosie Burgess Duo, King River Rising, Piña Tuteri, Jessica Lorraine, Past Present, KÖDA, Josh Sadkowski and Slade & Moon, with your fabulous emcee, Krystal Ring. What a line-up! Crepes, coffee, hotdogs, baked potatoes, cocktails, snags and burgers too (thanks to the local Lions Club!) – you won’t go hungry! Bring a blanket/chair – STRICTLY NO BYO alcohol or glass. The Swig Rig will have your fave beers, wines and spirits covered too!

“OUTintheOPEN kicks off on Thursday November 1 with The Gathering at Noble Monks – great live music, superb food; a fun, warm, evening welcome to Shepparton’s LGBTI+ pride and community diversity Festival (after an LGBTI Aged Care Training session from midday). Friday November 2 offers three health/well-being events – an LGBTIQA+ Best Practice Forum, “The Gay Ability – One Man’s Life Lessons” and “PrEPare for PrEP“, a panel of advocates, experts, and clinicians discussing HIV and prevention/treatments – all hosted at GOTAFE, proud supporters of our diverse “rainbow” community. Following at 8PM, enjoy a film, “Untold Histories“, the documentary exploring the lived experiences of LGBTI elders – sharing personal stories and histories detailing the changing attitudes in society towards sexual orientation and gender identity.

“CARNIVAL DAY on Saturday November 3 not your thing? Check out Greater Shepparton’s rainbow-flag covered CBD for great restaurants, awesome shopping, and other attractions on offer in the region – the Visitor Info Centre has got you covered. Or, have a late lunch and cheeky bevvy with the Dykes on Bikes Melbourne in the Queens Garden’s make-shift food-court before 5.30PM on Saturday afternoon, or head over to The Aussie Hotel and from 6PM grab some Snacks and Sips before Shepparton’s biggest GLITZ PARTY upstairs (from 8PM – 1AM). A night of frivolity and debauchery, drag shows throughout the evening will feature Krystal Ring, Sexy Galexy, Ashley Madison and Slaysia – serving cabaret realness, along with topless male dancers, and a whole lot more!

“Wake to a beautiful Earth Meditation Sunday morning November 4 in Queens Gardens from 9.30am sharp, before a scrumptious BIG Community Brunch at Lemon Tree Café on Fryers Street at 11am hosted by Goulburn Valley Pride. What a way to finish off YOUR OUTintheOPEN Festival Shepparton weekend!

“This year our $50 Festival Pass is back – enjoy access to Saturday night’s GLITZ PARTY and Sunday morning’s BIG Community Brunch PLUS ALL OTHER EVENTS FOR ONLY $50! But be quick – there’s only 100 of these little diamonds & they’re selling like hotcakes! Need accommodation? Our partners, Parklake Shepparton & Tudor House Motor Inn, have it all sorted for you – visit www.outintheopen.org.au for more info. OUTintheOPEN Festival Shepparton is so proud to be turning 7, and values & appreciates so much your support & commitment to being inclusive & celebrating diversity.

“Join us! Be part of Greater Shepparton’s Festival celebrating LGBTI+ pride and community diversity this November 1 – 4!”